Latinos in Action club encourages inclusion, community involvement

The Latinos in Action club at Salt Lake Community College supports Latino students in their efforts to pursue a college education.

Fun, helpful and enthusiastic is all a part of the Latinos in Action (LIA) environment, where students who are interested in the Latino culture can join.

Latinos in Action is a Salt Lake Community College club, which is mainly located at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. They are a nonprofit organization that was established in 2010. Their mission is to empower Latino youth to enroll in college and graduate by providing them meaningful educational, service, cultural and leadership opportunities.

“Latinos in Action also travels every spring out of state to their yearly LIA conference, anyone who would like to join and come to this conference is welcome, they would just have to pay a $5 donation, to make the trip expenses smaller,” says Jose Luis de Avila, SLCC student and LIA member.

The club requires a $5 fee for every semester they are involved in the club. This money helps the club with future events, trips and also to help schools that are in need of supplies.

Other distinguishable activities LIA offers include community service around neighborhoods and schools on a weekly basis.

For example, students who are part of LIA help tutor reading and math in local elementary and middle schools. They also spend their time volunteering as translators for school events, such as parent teacher conferences.

LIA also offers classes in middle schools, junior highs and high schools, which are also part of the College LIA program. LIA operates in over 110 classrooms throughout Utah, Idaho, Washington and Texas.

LIA meets every Friday at 1 p.m. at the Senate Chambers in the Student Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. Anyone can join, no matter where you come form or what culture you are. Students are more than welcome to come at any time throughout the semester.

LIA sponsors many events each semester like the club conference they held for high school students.

“This conference will have about 20 workshops to get high school students ready for college and as a special guest speaker, LIA invited Michael Reyes, a poet from Chicago, who will encourage students to go to college,” says de Avila.